Tips to Keep Birmingham Families Safe

Here are some tips on improving home security and personal safety.

Staying Safe in South Birmingham

Recent headlines have left many local parents worrying with regards to safety in the community. Car-jacking in Kings Heath and Moseley, robberies and car break-ins in Harborne, and gun and knife crime in Northfield have unfortunately hit the headlines. Whilst we know the police will be doing all they can, it doesn’t hurt to take personal, practical, safety precautions. Families Online, are here to give you some pointers on keeping yourself and your family safe. There are also some useful contact details for reporting crime and keeping up to date with news.

Safety against Car-Jacking

Lock all doors and keep windows up when driving.

Most car-jackings take place when vehicles are stopped at intersections. The criminals approach in the blind spot (from a 45degree angle), and either pull the driver out of their seat or jump in the passenger’s seat.

Preventing Car Theft

Install an anti-theft device

Remove Satellite Navigation

Remove Car Stereo

Remove all valuables

Lock doors & secure keys

Keeping Your Home Safe

Lock your doors and windows every time you leave the house (remember to double lock UPVC)

Hide all keys including car keys out of sight and away from the letterbox

Install good outside lighting

Install a burglar alarm (visual if possible)

Leave lights and radios on a timer

Keep fencing around your garden in good condition

Consider joining a neighbourhood watch scheme

Secure bikes by locking to an immoveable object inside a shed or garage

Remove valuables from view

Lock side gates

Ensure ladders and tools are not kept outside where they could be used to break in

Gun Crime

The best thing we can do as a community is continue to inform our children of the dangers of guns and make them aware that gun possession can be reported anonymously.

Anyone who knows someone who has a gun or where one is kept can help get the guns off Birmingham’s streets by anonymously calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or by using the website www.crimestoppers-uk.org/

Knife Crime

The biggest worry here for many, is that your child may get involved with a gang that promotes/glorifies knife crime...

10 Warning signs that your child might be carrying a knife

Does your child seem withdrawn from the family and/or school?

Is your child’s school or college worried about changes in behaviour, academic achievement or attendance?

Has your child lost interest in positive activities such as sports clubs?

Does he or she stay out unusually late without giving a reason and not statehis/her whereabouts?

Has he or she stopped seeing old friends and started hanging out with a new group?

Is your child secretive about the contents of their bag?

Are they defensive if you ask what is in their possession or if they’re hiding anything?

Has their attitude changed about carrying knives/weapons? For example, justifying it by saying people carry them for self-defence?

Have any items gone missing from the kitchen, tool box or garage?

Have you found a weapon hidden amongst their possessions?

The list of checklist questions above is advised by West Midlands' police in their campaign against knife crime.

Should a mother find their child is carrying a knife, the police are advising parents to encourage their children to surrender their knife at one of the many knife surrender bins across the region. Locations of weapon surrender bins can be found here.